Brantford area job stats little changed
February 2025 employment numbers for Brantford-Brant saw little change, but the unemployment rate still climbed slightly.
The local jobless rate was estimated to be 5.3% in February, up from January’s 5%, according to seasonally adjusted figures based on a Statistics Canada survey of households, which was conducted Feb. 9 to 15.
Nation-wide job numbers were virtually unchanged last month and Canada’s unemployment rate remained at 6.6%. Meanwhile, Ontario’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.3%, due mainly to fewer people looking for work.
February 2025 figures show that the Brantford area continues to have the lowest unemployment rate among nearby communities such as Hamilton, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, St. Catharines-Niagara and London. However, Brantford’s employment rate – the proportion of the population aged 15+ who are working – is middle of the pack.
“The fact that employment was little changed locally, regionally and across Canada can be read as a sign that many employers pressed pause last month in the face of U.S. tariffs,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie’s executive director. “Businesses are in a wait-and-see mode, neither adding nor reducing staffing.”
Impact of U.S. tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Canadian goods would start February 4, but on February 3 paused them, saying they would start March 4. Since then, the U.S. has announced that Canadian steel and aluminum will face tariffs starting next week, while tariffs on some other goods would be paused until April.
“There’s a lot of confusion and uncertainty right now, especially with U.S. announcements changing almost daily, so it is understandable if businesses have put things on hold,” Dalton said.
Dalton said the planning board will monitor impacts on the area’s labour market and will work with governments, business groups and community services to support businesses and workers.
Even with all the uncertainty, local employers have still been posting job openings, though it isn’t clear if people have been hired to fill those openings, she said.
The planning board’s Grand Erie Jobs platform saw 1,600 new job postings in February, and the number of businesses with postings reached 1,000. Grand Erie Jobs displays postings from major online job boards.
Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the February 2025 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.
